The Algerian government has launched a national innovation call inviting startups, researchers, and technology experts to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technology solutions for the country’s water management challenges. The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises, marks a major step in Algeria’s push for digital transformation and climate-resilient resource planning.
Titled a “national open call for water innovation,” the programme seeks proposals in areas such as AI-driven monitoring systems, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, smart irrigation, energy-efficient desalination, water reuse technologies, and climate adaptation tools. By encouraging practical, technology-driven solutions, the government aims to address both current and future water challenges.
Algeria faces chronic water scarcity, particularly in its arid and semi-arid regions, with urban growth, agricultural demand, and climate change placing increasing strain on limited water resources. Hydrogeology expert Abdesselam Malek noted, “In our country, especially in the South, our oases have endured thanks to resilience in the face of highly irregular rainfall. Our wadis in the North lose flows amounting to hundreds of millions of cubic meters.”
The national call emphasises reducing water losses, detecting leaks early, optimising irrigation, and improving decision-making through predictive analytics and real-time monitoring. Beyond identifying solutions, the initiative aims to map domestic talent, foster public-private partnerships, and build collaboration between innovators, universities, research centres, and local industries.
A government representative highlighted that the initiative “positions Algeria to better integrate digital technologies across the water value chain, supporting sustainability goals and socio-economic development.” The programme is also part of Algeria’s broader digital transformation strategy, which seeks to embed information and communication technologies across sectors to accelerate growth and resilience.
Selected projects are expected to begin pilot implementations by mid-2026, with successful innovations potentially integrated into national water security programmes. Analysts say Algeria’s approach could set a regional example for smart water governance, combining homegrown technological innovation with sustainable resource management to tackle 21st-century challenges.
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